The sports agency representing O.J. Mayo
denied any illegal activity involving the Southern California star
on Monday, a day after ESPN reported Bill Duffy Associates gave
cash to an event promoter who provided gifts.
Mayo has declared for the NBA draft and hired BDA Sports' Calvin
Andrews as his agent. ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported Sunday
that Mayo received about $30,000 and other benefits while in high
school and during his lone season at USC, then entered into a
verbal agreement that allowed the agency to represent him when he
turned pro.
"Bill Duffy met O.J. Mayo for the first time shortly before
O.J. selected BDA as his agency," BDA Sports said in a statement.
"BDA Sports Management's recruitment of O.J. Mayo did not involve
any conduct by Calvin Andrews, Bill Duffy or any other BDA employee
that could have remotely jeopardized O.J. Mayo's collegiate
eligibility. Everything in the recent report that suggests
otherwise is false."
Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo's, told ESPN that BDA
Sports provided Rodney Guillory with about $200,000 before Mayo
arrived at USC. Johnson said a portion of that money was given to
Mayo.
NCAA rules prohibit giving college athletes money or other
gifts.
"O.J. selected BDA based on their achievements and commitment
to work closely with him to maximize his considerable potential on
and off the court," BDA Sports said.